Can I clean my baby's pacifier with my mouth?

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Yes or no? Can I clean my baby's pacifier with my mouth? It is a very common gesture among many parents... The pacifier falls to the floor and, almost mechanically, the father or mother puts it in their mouth and takes it out clean and shiny, to put it back on their baby. Some studies indicate that the saliva of parents could improve the immune system of their children and prevent them from allergies and conditions such as asthma. However, according to some pediatricians, it is not an adequate hygiene measure since there are bacteria and microorganisms in the saliva that can cause infections in the child.

Do you clean the pacifier with your mouth? Be careful with bacteria and infections!

In the park, on the street or in the supermarket it is relatively common to see mothers or fathers who, when their child's pacifier falls on the ground, clean it by sucking it themselves. Is this measure unhygienic to you? Do you think it can be a problem for babies? Indeed, cleaning the pacifier in the mouth "is not an adequate hygiene measure", as pointed out by Dr. Ana Campos Segovia, from the Neonatology Service of the San Rafael Hospital in Madrid.

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The reason for considering this unhygienic attitude is that in the mouths of adults "there are bacteria that can increase the incidence of cavities (such as Streptococcus mutants) and other microorganisms that can cause infections." For example respiratory, as is the case with the flu.

Can your saliva immunize the baby?

Cleaning the pacifier in the mouth, however, is a controversial issue. Although it is true that it can cause infections in your baby, there are those who defend the opposite position. Can this peculiar way of cleaning be of any benefit to your child? This is estimated by an investigation carried out by the Henry Ford Health System (Detroit), whose results determine that "infants whose parents sucked on the pacifier to clean it had a lower level of antibodies related to the development of certain allergies and asthma". A Swedish study carried out by Dr. Agnes Wood in 2013 falls along the same lines, which emphasizes the idea of ​​reinforcing the baby's immune system.

How is that possible? The possible benefit of cleaning the pacifier in the mouth would have its explanation, according to the American study, in that parents could transmit healthy bacteria from their saliva that would affect the immune system of their children, as explained after the investigation by one of its authors, Eliane Abou-Jaoude.

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However, although these studies show that children whose parents cleaned their pacifiers with their saliva have a lower level of IgE linked to respiratory diseases, "there is no solid scientific evidence to support this," says the expert from the Saint Raphael Hospital. This expert advocates "going deeper into these studies, in order to demonstrate a cause-effect relationship" and, for these reasons, she is emphatic in stating that "it is currently not recommended to clean the pacifier in this way."

How to Clean Baby's Bottles or Toys Properly

Babies put everything in their mouths, so it's important to keep all utensils and toys clean. How to do it? Many parents are obsessed with sterilizing everything their child is going to put in their mouth, but is it really necessary?

There is no official recommendation from the Spanish Association of Pediatrics on the need to sterilize baby bottles before or after feedings. "What is recommended is to clean the bottle well after use, both the container and the teat," explains neonatologist Ana Campos Segovia.

Thus, to clean baby bottles, pacifiers or toys (teethers, rubber toys...) it is recommended to follow these instructions:

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